Heat records expected to be broken due in part to El Niño

Heat records are anticipated to be broken across various countries as a result of both intense summer temperatures and strengthening El Niño conditions. Belgium experienced its hottest summer on record, with temperatures in Uccle averaging 20.3C, surpassing the previous high by 2.4C. This marks the first time that the average temperature has exceeded 20C, a milestone not seen since observations began in 1833.

Across 33 countries, from Western Europe to the Sahel and Central America, July set a new July record. Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary all recorded their highest temperatures on record during the season. In Spain, the heatwave resulted in over 5,000 heat-related deaths between June and August, with a significant proportion of those who died being elderly.

Britain also experienced its warmest summer in over a century, with an average temperature of 16.5C, making it the warmest on record for the second consecutive year. India recorded its hottest August since records began in 1901, with temperatures 0.67C above the long-term average. This heat was exacerbated by El Niño conditions, causing drier-than-normal conditions in the region.

Scientists warn that climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and intense, leading to an increasing number of heat records being broken globally.